Since it's off-season, some Johnny Orr...

[t-noah]

Back in the day ISU BB didn't have a practice facility so the teams practiced at Hilton. During practices we were supposed to steer clear of the floor as much as possible while working but it was always interesting walking by a practice. Johnny often didn't give a lot of guidance - instead playing the CEO and letting his assistants handle the nuts and bolts. He would often cut loose a barrage of cursing when someone wasn't getting it right or screwed up an assignment. Some of the old timers there would tell me it was nothing compared to a few years before when, "God dammit, Elmer!" was heard multiple times at pretty much every practice.

Also, see sig...
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Thank you! I was waiting for you to post, hoping... lol

"There are five real good recruits in the state. We got three of them. One couldn't get into school, and the other went to (the University of) Iowa...which is about the same thing." - Coach Johnny Orr

 

[qwerty]

The Golden age of BB, not everything was blown out of proportion by social media the B8 had a great group of coaches Johnny, Eddie Suttton, Billy Tubbs, "Sit Down Norm!" Stewart they all gave as good as they got when it came to taking little digs at each other.

One of my best memories was when I think it was Terrance Allen blew a dunk during a fairly close game Johnny never even looked at who was next to him he just grabbed them by the arm and threw them towards the scorer table. It was hilarious. Actually my favorite memory was when we were playing Missouri and Barry Stevens kept hitting shot after shot from the corner he was making it rain but it was before the three point line. For the Indiana game we made painted up a bed sheet that said Good Knight Bobby on it that was fun. (Went and checked the score looks like we lost by 2 that yr. Still a great game and fun time)

No one ever worked harder to resurrect ISU BB he went to every dorm floor Fraternity and Sorority on Campus to generate student interest in ISU BB. It worked the crowds and student section grew quickly under him.

In my opinion his legacy at ISU is way more than his won and loss record. I think TJ is debatably the best coach at ISU but Johnny really got the ball rolling way back then.

 

[Cyclad]

And now, here's Johnny!

I could be ready for another Johnny story?

I was president of the NE Iowa Cyclone Club for many years. At our annual outing we always had guest coaches. One year, right after the Veisha riots, we had Walden and Orr. It was a big time comedy act. The whole place was cracked up. The coaches were called out to try to calm the rioters. Both coaches claimed that only they were able to calm the crowds. I cannot due the humor justice.
I still have my Bartells and James autographed poster signed by both of them that night.

Plus the cassette they made together called “Bettin on a Good Time.” Walden could sing - Johnny = not good.

 

[NWICY]

I was president of the NE Iowa Cyclone Club for many years. At our annual outing we always had guest coaches. One year, right after the Veisha riots, we had Walden and Orr. It was a big time comedy act. The whole place was cracked up. The coaches were called out to try to calm the rioters. Both coaches claimed that only they were able to calm the crowds. I cannot due the humor justice.
I still have my Bartells and James autographed poster signed by both of them that night.

Plus the cassette they made together called “Bettin on a Good Time.” Walden could sing - Johnny = not good.

Somewhere a long time ago someone posted that video on CF its a hoot!

 

[aauummm]

Somewhere a long time ago someone posted that video on CF its a hoot!

A guy named Dennis Carlson posted this to YouTube 11 yrs ago. Thanks to whomever he is for keeping the video going!

 

[Aclone]

But we got the correction from @Chick Sutherland, so...

I never knew her name was Romala.

One of the most touching—to me—parts of when Johnny told the “Why I left Michigan for Iowa State” story was always the part about, “They offered me enough money my wife wasn’t gonna have to work any more!”

Sure, maybe it was hyperbole, but I still liked it anyway.

 

[Sparkplug]

This is a repeat from another thread but here goes

Coach Orr was autographing copies of his book at a bookstore in Des Moines. I picked my son up from preschool and went to buy the book and get it signed. We walk up to the table and coach says “how are you doing Alex”. Alex’s eyes got huge and answered him. I didn’t have the heart to tell Alex he still had on his name tag from school

 

[VeloClone]

One of the most touching—to me—parts of when Johnny told the “Why I left Michigan for Iowa State” story was always the part about, “They offered me enough money my wife wasn’t gonna have to work any more!”

Sure, maybe it was hyperbole, but I still liked it anyway.

Probably not totally hyperbole. Even when Orr made the Final Four he wasn't making a lot of coin. Coaching wasn't the glamour job it has become. Coaches weren't making a lot of money and I imagine the Orr family had to make a lot of sacrifices for Johnny to stay in the game. ISU was breaking the mold in offering a lot of money for the market to land a coach and turn around a program that had to weather things like the Ken Trickey debacle.